Three-legged carrier for invalids



Nov. 17, 1953 J. B. COINYERS 2,659,092

THREE-LEGGED CARRIER FOR INVALIDS Filed Oct. 24, 1950 IN VENTOR F5 I v JAMES BENNETT CONYER5 64 flW ATTORNEY Patented Nov. 17, 1953 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE THREE-LEGGED CARRIER FOR INVALIDS' James Bennett Conyers, Atlanta, Ga.

Application October 24, 1950, Serial No. 191,878

5 Claims. 1

This invention relates to hospital apparatus and more particularly to a pallet and a frame for the positioning and transportation of patients in a hospital.

A principal object of this invention is the provision of a novel apparatus for removing a hospital patient from one position to another in his bed and from one place to another in the hospital.

A further objectof this invention is the provision of a pallet and frame for positioning a patient withinihis bed while resting on the pallet and moving him from place to place or from-the bed during the period when the bed is being cleaned or made up.

An additional object of this invention resides in the provision of a novel frame for moving a pallet with a patient thereon smoothly and easily from" the surfaceofthe bed and from place to place.

Another object of this invention is to provide a frame for the carrying of a bed pallet which has an extremely broadbase and yet can be moved throu h narrow places such as doorwaysandthe space between beds. I A further object of this invention is the provision of an apparatus for use with patients for ,whom any sudden jolting or movement would be fatal. 7

A further object ofthis invention is the provision of an apparatus for the moving of patients which apparatus isrugged, strongly built, and whichis easily made from readily available materials.

. Although the novel features which are believed to be characteristic of this invention will be particularly pointed out in the, claims appended hereto, the invention itself, as to its objects and advantages, the mode of its operation, and the manner of its organization maybe better understood by referring to the following description taken in connection with the accompanying draw ings forming apart thereof, in which: f

' Figure 1 is a perspective view of a preferred form of apparatus constructed in accordance with the present inventiornthe apparatus being shown inoperative position relative to a bed; 1

,Figu're'2 is an enlarged sectional'view taken on the line II'II' of Figure ,1 and looking in the direction of the arrows;

Figure 3 is an enlarged sectional view taken on the lirieIII-III or Figure 1 looking in the direction of the arrows, Like reference characters denote like parts 'throughout theseveral figures of the drawing;

, In the treatment of hospital patients, and particularly those with such ailments as heart trouble or such injuries as broken backs, it is sometimes extremely important that the patients body be subject to the least possible movement. At times, for instance where the patient must be carried to the operating room from his bed, it has been the practice to slide him onto a wheeled table. This practice is often dangerous to say the least. Still, there are occasions where the patient for one or more reasons must be moved from his bed. The present invention avoids the dangers inherent in the former practice, by placing the patient-on a pallet which is placed on his hospital bed and providing a movable support ing frame for the pallet, which frame is so constructed as to enable the pallet to be moved from place to place without disturbing the patient. Y

In the specific embodiment illustrated in Figure 1, the apparatus of the present invention, generally designated 10, is shown in conjunction with a hospital bed II and consists of a pallet I2 and a supporting frame l3. The pallet 12 consists of a frame l4 made up of tubular metal or the like and covered with a web l5 of cloth material, such as canvas. The frame I4 of the pallet is generally rectangular and the web [5 is of the same general shape and is provided with a peripheral hem [6 within which the frame of the pallet resides. The web is cut away at each corner to provide a clearance ll for the attachment of rings l8 to the frame of the pallet at the corner intersection thereof. In the medial section of the web, an aperture I 9 is provided for use by the patient in elimination. Beneath this aperture is attached. a flap 20 which is fastened to the web in the vicinity of the aperture by suitable means, such as snap fasteners 2|. Attached to each of the rings l8 at the corners of the pallet is a flexible member such as the ropes 22. The ropes 22 conveniently meet at a common point approximately over the center of gravity of the pallet and patient accommodated on the pallet, and are fastened to a ring 23. The frame [4 of the pallet is hinged on both sides at a position 24 corresponding generally to the position occupied by the waist of a patient lying on the surface of the pallet. The head end of the pallet is provided with a rope assembly 25 attached to the corner rings ['8 for a purpose to be explained later.

The supporting frame 13 is a threelegged structure and, generally speaking, the legs are joined together at a more or less common point. adapted to be situated above the center'of gravity of the pallet and patient accommodated thereon.

Two of the legs 26 and 21 are of such a shape and size as to be adapted to be positioned adjacent to the sides of the bed and pallet near the head portions thereof. A third end leg 28 is adapted to extend over the foot of the bed and rest on the floor adjacent thereto. Each of the legs is provided at the bottom portion with a wheel or caster 29. Furthermore, each leg is generally vertical at: the lower portion thereof as for a, height coi fespiinding genera-11y to the height of the bed and this vertical lower portion 30 comprises two telescopic parts 3! and 32 which are held in their adjusted position as by means of a set screw 33 or the like: these lower vertical portions 30, each o f thele gs extends upwardly and inwardly of the bed to the common meeting point. At t-his poiiit each ree is provided with a vertical ear 34. Each of these ears has an aperture a pi finwbi heeaien r r z ei ll amifire at we tuthreegiiheears; arid aerate tr tebee the "my is soinfe rarer oi;

a e permeates 4 d teelie iiiiovmea with tea e aer e 4 .t a 55 wiiialiifei-e eeihpreiieeage e wee e three eel-e I'4.. th I iii the a fe d anaemia T the block gattine agree; 7 'agffigei fd te tl'ie pal'let' assembly.

er tim of e free ea er; a si'riall i111 H Y end ie i "E8 or; the frame; The wirieh is uru preyi'cieq', at i usuahwith a handle it ange pew; and net.

. ei' r rme sea y p eeeeenvemem to the patient emit; eh'ai'ifsii ere-emanates li i ifie eu "tiir e legs alremfetfdic "single eh-em. The

sena- "m'ey Be further trained "with a caveat for the reception 0'? e e we 6 at are th head of the pane: pesses ardent x'rereiea ty the portion 52 for the reception of the end leg 28 when the pallet is in raised position and a flap 53 may be provided for use in covering the cut-out portion during ordinary use.

In operation, the apparatus of the instant invention is used in the manner described below. The pallet I2 ordinarily rests on a hospital bed I i and the patient rests on the pallet. The pallet may or may not be providedwithsuitable lied clothes: rue patintibr most er? the time, is cared for in the same manner as he would be p it he were resting on an ordinary hospital bed.

the weee'f r As a matter of fact, ordinarily the ropes 22 01' tlie'iiallet-iriay-be removed and the frame l3 removed from, the bed. The patient, of course, wemate able to raise himself to sitting position if the framewereain-position at all times by pulling, on the rope assembly 25 whereby the head end of the pallet wouldbe raised at an angle to horizontal about the hinges 24 and the patient weiiiiibe meted be a sitting positiona- When it is desired to move the" patient; the frame I 3 is mevee' intepcsiuon ever the bed; "if it is not already in that position, and the-nook efthe block and reek-1e is attached to the ring of the" pal-let and adjustments are made to insure that the pallet 'will' be lifted evenly u wardly when the meek and' tackle l t-is aetuate'd'by the use er the amena-i. The handle tt-erthewmeh is turned, raising tfie pallet arid patient directly upwardly into-the mare. 'T-l'ie pallet is prfeb ably raiseduntil it eieeeseteeenes the legs as they converg'e towers one enethee As a matter of fact, a pallet in this position may pe'pr'etentea from-swinging by prepee ese of me rene assembly -25. The apparatusis nbwready fei' the trans portation 6fthe serene to his uestiaatien.

Once the pallet and patient have lifted clear of the bed, the frame may be moved abeuten its wheels and casters 29. 'A'i'nong the problems that will be errk'ioufiteiedininbi ihgabfit iii a lies pital *is fact that the frame is "eb'r isid'ez' ably wider than the av'eragedioi waly ,ein'ei' semetimes considerably wider than the s ace-between eat. Thie nam is- 'neee seruy quite wide teen-tee of the racy that t must be large enough to streams the bed. teammate, some provision inest be made for steering and maneuvering the patient {andv pallet emerge earners; *pr'ebiem eresented-by the width of the-frarfie'is ovei'coiife the provision oi-the hinges "described-above tar the side legs as aim-21. As the name is wheeied toward, a doorway, the detent M in eachpf the hinges er; the sidefl'gs 'is' remasedenatue legs are folded forwardly er paeigwaraiy-as seems to be best in thefpa fti'ciilar situation; It oan be seen that it is desirable "designing the hla'ihe t besiirjetl'iat'the emens bnft weenthe hinges "ofthe side regs is slightly ies'sjtn'en the width a trwey er earnest threj'ueni Which] it be'des'irdtii' assfthefra'm'e. 're'eente'eeen-eise that the ste n'g wiueeriereuyte broughtabiiut uy the mp ei etieh'erthe eria leg 28 aboiitits pin 4t. iti'iejiirferfentn f'tiiehenifle' he 'directedin the line'jo'ffpio'gresfs'of the iremeiesisecially when itjis 'inadeconsidei ibly ?lbiige1-thn n e nae le'gs 2t and 21. This "gives mere 'sensie tive'stee'riiig. Of e'eur's eff fuieiramefpeirt, and. p atient have reached the destination, the-palv let andpatient'arelowered.totliebpei atingftable, hospital been other desired restin -place.

It is to be observed that the apparatus of the present r venue}; is useful f r other piifiidses than those described "ab dve. f 'Fdrj iiistaiibe it mekes a serene eiiauiemfiewmeene ""fdr cal-rying dead bodies. It is also useful in a hospital for the carrying of heavy objects. Using this apparatus, a single man may perform all the indicated tasks with safety and with ease.

While certain novel features of the invention have been shown and described and are pointed out in the annexed claims, it will be understood that various omissions, substitutions, and changes in the forms and details of the device illustrated and in its operation may be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of the invention.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to protect by Letters Patent is:

1. A supporting frame for a hospital pallet, comprising: a first, second, and a third leg held in operative relationship in such a manner that the frame is adapted to straddle a bed upon which the pallet rests, the lower extremities of each of said legs having a substantial vertical portion, the lower portion of each of said legs being provided with a caster, the upper portion of each of said legs having a hinge with a vertical pivot whereby the lower portion may be folded out of line with the upper portion, each of said vertical hinges having a detent means for locking said upper and lower portions in aligned relationship.

2. A supporting frame as recited in claim 1, wherein: the lower portions of said legs are telescopically adjustable.

3. An apparatus of the character described, comprising: a pallet, a three-legged frame supporting said pallet and having the upper ends of its legs rigidly joined together at an apex over said pallet, lift means on said frame and connected with said pallet for raising the same substantially horizontally toward said apex, two legs of said frame having upper portions extending backward over said pallet and beyond the same from said apex and the other leg of said frame extending forward over said pallet and beyond the same from said apex, and said legs having vertical lower portions increasing the height of said frame and clearing said pallet for the latter to move vertically through an appreciable range of lift, all with small standing area demanded by said frame, said two legs being side legs of substantially the same size and proportion having their vertical portions respectively on opposite sides of said pallet and clearing the same near the back end of the pallet, and the other of said legs having its vertical portion substantially centrally in advance of the forward end of said pallet, and rollers on the lower ends of the vertical portions of said legs whereby said frame and its load may be rolled as a unit;

4. An apparatus of the character described, comprising: a pallet, a three-legged frame having the upper ends of its legs rigidly joined together at an apex over and supportingsaid pallet, lift means on said frame and connected with said pallet for raising the latter toward said apex and including means for suspending said pallet substantially horizontally from said apex, two legs of said frame having upper portions extending backward over said pallet and beyond the same from said apex and the other leg of said frame extending forward over said pallet and beyond the same from said apex, and said legs having vertical lower portions increasing the height of said frame and clearing said pallet for the latter to move vertically through an appreciable range of lift, all with small standing area demanded by said frame. said two legs being side legs of substantially the same size and propor tion having their vertical portions respectively on opposite sides of said pallet and clearing the same adjacent the back end of the latter, and the other of said legs having its vertical portion substantially centrally in advance of the front end of said pallet and having its'upper portion extending farther from said apex than'the upper portions of the other two legs with said apex being disposed more nearly over the back end of said pallet than over the front end of the pallet, so as to achieve better balanced support of the pallet when the pallet is occupied by a person, and rollers on the lower ends of the vertical portions of said legs, whereby said frame and its load may be rolled as a unit.

5. A supporting frame for a hospital pallet, comprising: a first, second, and a third leg held in operative relationship in such a manner that the frame is adapted to straddle a bed upon which the pallet rests, the lower extremities of each of said legs having a substantial vertical portion, the lower portion of each of said legs being provided with a roller, and the upper portion of at least one of said legs having a hinge with a vertical pivot whereby the lower portion may be folded out of line with the upper portion, said vertical hinge having a detent means for locking said upper and lower portions in aligned relationship.

JAMES NE'I'I CONYERS.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number 7 501,030 Germany June 27, 1930 

